Qualification Secured Before Final Match
Nigeria’s male senior basketball team, D’Tigers, have secured their spot at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket championship, effectively conquering any lingering doubts about their qualification. The team was officially declared “qualified” for the tournament ahead of their final qualifier against Cape Verde, which was set to take place on Sunday.
Final Qualifier: A Last Stand for D’Tigers
D’Tigers were originally set to face Group B leaders Cape Verde in their last match of the second phase of the qualifiers, with the hope that a win would improve their standing. However, FIBA’s ruling on the qualification process meant that, regardless of the result of this final game, all teams in Group B—Cape Verde, Libya, Nigeria, and Uganda—would automatically qualify for the Angola tournament as the best fourth-placed team.
D’Tigers Take Control: A Dominant Win Over Cape Verde
Despite the assurance of qualification, D’Tigers didn’t take their fate for granted. The team took matters into their own hands and delivered a commanding performance, defeating Cape Verde 77-62. With this victory, they wrapped up their qualifiers on a high note.
A Rocky Start, A Strong Finish
The qualification process had been a tough journey for D’Tigers, especially after a dismal performance in the first phase of the qualifiers last year, where they suffered three consecutive losses. However, their comeback in Libya during the second phase of the qualifiers was nothing short of impressive. The team opened their campaign with a 75-70 victory over hosts Libya, followed by an even more dominant 87-67 win over Uganda, showing their resilience and determination to redeem themselves.
FIBA’s Announcement: Qualification Secured Before Final Game
Their qualification was confirmed just one match shy of the final game, with FIBA’s announcement that they had earned a spot in the 2025 AfroBasket regardless of their performance in the last match.
Looking Ahead: D’Tigers Set Sights on AfroBasket Glory
This marks an important achievement for the Nigerian team, who have participated in the last ten editions of the AfroBasket tournament. D’Tigers will now aim to secure a second continental title when the competition takes place in Angola from August 12 to 24. Nigeria’s sole AfroBasket victory came in 2015, alongside four silver medals and three bronze medals.
